SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
September 28, 2024
OUR TAKE: Benny Golson – His Life was a History of Jazz
Benny Golson died last Saturday. He was 95. Which means he was born in 1929 and remained active as both a player and a composer through 2024. His life nearly…
September 21, 2024
OUR TAKE: Why We Love This Music!
I have read stories about chefs who prefer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to their haute cuisine dishes. Many athletes famously refuse to watch games involving their professional sport. And…
September 14, 2024
OUR TAKE: G.O.A.T. & Mt. Rushmore Candidates
As a sucker for any list that purports to list the “Top 20” of anything or anyone, I am surprised that we have never undertaken such a list for the…
September 7, 2024
OUR TAKE: A Tale of Two Cities…And Two Jazz Shows
Last week, I shared with you some insights from our 8.23 STL Jazz Fest Show in St. Louis which featured Gregory Porter, Eric Marienthal, Niki Haris and others. Again, it…
August 31, 2024
OUR TAKE: Labor Day Resolutions
Resolutions should not be made only at New Years. Though the calendar changes from one year to the next, that day is not a bright line for much. Perhaps it…
August 24, 2024
OUR TAKE: Showtime!
STL Jazz Fest, our land-based homage to all facets of our jazz programs, began last night in grand fashion. The evening included performances by our Music Director Eric Marienthal and…
August 17, 2024
OUR TAKE: Back to (Music) School
Many schools will reopen this Monday, August 19. Seeing schools open before Labor Day is a shock to my system as, at every level of my education, the day after…
August 10, 2024
OUR TAKE: Celebrating Jazz
We are spending a lot of time preparing for the 25th Anniversary of The Jazz Cruise celebration. The lineup of musicians is set. With fewer than 30 staterooms available to…
August 3, 2024
OUR TAKE: Reviving Our Jazz Traditions
A few months ago, I was bemoaning the “loss” of two important and meaningful jazz traditions in events and relationships in my world of jazz. The Vail Jazz Organization announced…
July 27, 2024
OUR TAKE: Commander Kirk – Going Where We Have Gone Before
In a recent interview, Kirk Whalum bemoaned the fact that too often the music played under the “smooth jazz” umbrella suffers from a lack of individualism as compositions are dictated…